Dashboard.



No. 677,76l. Patented July 2, |901.

IH.' L. HALL.

DASHBOAHD.

rn: ohms PETERS co.. moro-uma.. WASHINGTON. n, cA

No. 677,76I. Patented luly 2, |901. H. L.HALL.

DASHBOARD.

, (Application mnd oct. 3 1, 1900.) (Nq Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mventoz'Nrranraras Fries.

afrnNr DASHBOARD.

SPEGLFICATICN forming part of Letters Patent No. 677,761, dated July 2,1901.

Application tiled October 3l, 1900. Serial No. 351028. (No model.)

biles or power-driven vehicles, but capable of A application to otherpurposes. l

My invention is fully described and illustrated in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, the novel features thereofbeing specied in the claims annexed to the said specification.

In the accompanying drawings, representing my invention, Figure 1 is aside view. Fig. 2 is a front View. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of oneof the tubular standards. Fig.; 4 is a front view of the dashboarddetached, showing it collapsed or folded. Fig. is a section ofthespring-roller. Fig. 6 represents the pin and sliding block at the uppercorners of the-apron. Fig. 7 is a central vertical section showing theinside of one of the standards.

My improved dashboard consists, essentially, of the standards A A, thebase B, and the movable apron C, arranged to be wound up on thespring-roller D. The base is secured to the footboard or forward part ofthe vehicle in any suitable way and supports the standards, which extendupward a suitable distance at each side and carry the apron. The base ismade of sheet metal, being provided at each end with the upwardly-turnedears E E', to which the standards are fastened and which support thepivots of the spring-roller D. The lower end of the apron is attached tothe outside of the spring-roller in anysuit-able manner. The outer endof v the apron is attached to the bar F, which is provided at itsextremities with pins or studs II I-I, which project into and slide upand down in the vertical slots I in the inner surfaces of the standards.When extended upward, the studs H H engage in notches J, made in theedges of the slots in the standards, so that the bar F is held in placeacross the top of the standards and the apron is kept firmly distendedby the strain of the spring in the roller. Any other suitable devicesmay be employed for this purposesuch, for instance, as a movable latchor catch. The standards may be of any suitable construction. As shown,they consist of Inetallic tubes bent over on themselves at their upperends, thus making each standard double, the outer member K of eachextending downward and being joined to the inner member, whichis securedto the base. Thestandards may have any other suitable form, and they maybe made solid, of any suitable material, and provided with the slots ontheir inner sides. The spring-roller is of any ordinary or preferredconstruction, the spring L, Fig. 5, being attached at one end to theshaft or one of the pins N and at the other endtotheinterioroftherollerD. Thespring operates to wind up the apron on the roller whenthe apron is disengaged from the standards at its upper end. In Fig. 2the apron is shown in full lines as distended and in Fig. 5 as rolledup, leaving the space between the standards open and practicallyunobstructed, as if the vehicle were not provided with any dash at all.

The apron or curtain may be supported against the pressure of the air inany suitable Way. In the drawings I have shown a split or divided bar O,Figs. 2, 4, and 8, which engages the apron on both sides and may beadjusted up and down in the standards. The slats forming the bar areconnected together at their ends and provided with the pins P, whichslide in the slots I in the standards. The pins P engage in notches J',Fig. 7, in the standards, so that the bar O when in use is supportedabout midway of the height of the apron. When' the apron is rolled up,the bar O will occupy the position just above the roller indicated atO', Fig. 2. The braces Q, of an'ysuitable number or arrangement, mayalso be employed to support the apron and also to stiften the standards.These braces may be arranged diagonally, as shown, either with orwithout the circle or other ornamental shape at their meeting-point, andthe braces may be braz'ed to the standards or detachably appliedthereto. Preferably the braces are placed behind the apron, as shown. Ifthe braces are employed, the crossbar O is not IOO necessary. A guard orfender R., Fig. 7, may be employed to protect the roller from injury.This guard extends all the Way across from one standard to the other andserves also to strengthen the base. Any suit-able flexible material maybe used for the apron. Double-faced patent or enameled leatherconstitutes a suitable fabric. The apron may also be made of a series ofparallel folding Wooden or other slats attached together in anysuitableway or secured to a suitable fabric, so it can be Wound up on theroller. The standards may also be made removable or adjustable byfolding or otherwise arranging them so that they can be put out of theWay when the apron is folded up.

The ad vautages of my improved adjustable dashboard will have beenunderstood from the preceding description. Whenever desired, as in warmWeather or to reduce the air resistance, the apron is rolled up on therollers and the front of the vehicle is left open. At the same time thestandards afford suitable hand-grasps in mounting ordismounting or forthe attach ment of lamps or gages.

My improved dashboard is also cheap and serviceable, and it will ofcourse be understood that the roller at the lower end of the apron maybe operated in any suitable manner Without the spring shown.

1. The combination of the adjustable dashboard, itssupporting-standards, and the bracing between the standards, 'as and forthe purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the adjustable dashboard, itssupporting-standards, the brace between the standards, and the baseconnecting` the same, as and for the purposesl set forth.

3. The combination of the adjustable dashboard, itssupporting-standards, the springroller, and the movable supporting-bar,as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination of the adjustable dashboard, the standards havingslots on their in ner faces, the roller for the apron, and means forholding the apron in its distended position, as and for the purposes setforth.

5. The combination of the base, the double standards on each side of thesame, the apron and means for holding it in the distended position, asand for the purposes set forth.

HERBERT L. HALL.

Vitnesses:

W. E. WITHERsPooN, C. G. CRANNELL.

